The following diary entries were made by Arthur Lumley Morgan, Welsh-born but living in Maidstone, Kent. He was married to Gertrude Hannah (nee Cressey) and owned a children’s-wear shop. His only child Estella Mary Morgan was born on 2nd February 1916. She had transcribed these entries from his diary which was then unfortunately lost. Arthur Morgan survived the war and died in 1949. Stella died in 2007 at the age of 91and did indeed lead a good and kind and unselfish life, caring for her Mother who died in 1978 aged 102.

Left Halton Camp at 6.00 am on Saturday 12th August 1916. Left Southampton at 3.00 pm the same day on hospital ship ‘Gloucester Castle’. Entered the Bay of Biscay on Sunday 13th and got out of it at 10.00 pm Monday night. I was seasick from Sunday morning till Tuesday morning, and on which days I had nothing to eat. Sunday and Monday were blank days for me.

Tuesday Aug 15 th A glorious day, feeling much better. Fatigue duty, clearing knives, forks and spoons. Remainder of morning spent on deck in the sun, and same afternoon in the afternoon. The Matron brought out her gramophone for our pleasure, and we had a sing-song on deck later on. Quite an enjoyable day. Saw the Berlings Rocks. Fire alarm at 4 o’clock.

Wednesday 16 th Roll-call at 6.30. Fatigue. One of ten men clean up our own ward. Saw land, said to be the Portuguese coast. Feeling quite myself now, and thoroughly enjoying voyage, wishing mine and the little pet with me. (his wife Gertrude and baby daughter Stella)The land we see now is Cape St Vincent. Getting towards Gib. Have been basking in the sun all afternoon, and enjoying the cool of the evening, writing and reading. A glorious day, and the sea like a pond, but nothing to record. Hoping to get a glimpse of Gibralter before retiring. Have just been watching, or rather, admiring a most beautiful eastern sunset. It is indescribable. The sea itself is like a huge pond, the reflection of the setting sun gives it the effect of shot silk glorious to gaze at, and to crown it all a small fishing boat with its sails up shows itself in the distance. We have just passed the town of Cadiz, and will be at Gibralter between 9.30 and 10 o’clock. ‘Lights-out’ 9.30 so I might not see it. Have seen Gib by moonlight 9.15, also the Morocco coast, and the town of Tangiers lit up.

Thursday 17 th Roll-call 6.30, fatigue duties same as Wednesday. Lovely morning, sea rather choppy as we are now nearer land than yesterday. Climate becomes warmer each day, and it is quite hot now even in the shade at 7.00 am. Saw huge Spanish mountains with snow on at this time, between 7 and 8 o’clock. This has been a very pleasant day on the boat, a nice breeze blowing all the time. We entered the Mediterranean during the night where (all being well) we shall be for some days. Our boat is only allowed to travel at 12 knots an hour under Government order, as she is a hospital ship. The concert on the lower deck this evening was very enjoyable, officers, pursers and sisters came down to swell the audience. It lasted 7.30 to 9.30. Not a bad day on the whole.

Friday 18 th Roll-call 6.30. Fatigue cleaning up in one of the officers’ ward – Fred & I. The heat is getting intense, but there are a few shady spots on deck and these are well booked. We are travelling along the coast of Algeria today, mid-way between Gib. and Malta. The town of Algiers is on our right, also huge mountains not very clear to the naked eye. We are having just a taste of the climate we are destined to live in for a while. Am writing to Ockendon (North Ockendon – the home village of his wife) and to Mr and Mrs Fynn today, also last instalment to my best girl.(his wife Gertrude)

Saturday 19 th Roll-call 6.30. Fatigue duty, cleaning up mess-room. Nice morning, and can see land all one side, which is the coast of Tunis, also saw two or three other ships. Just had a glimpse of the island of Sardinia. We were told just now to get our kit together in case we have to get off the boat tomorrow when we arrive at Malta. A glorious day, and we are in sight of land all the way now, not more than two miles separating us from the coast. The land appears to be waste sandy land. Posted a letter each to my wife, Mr & Mrs Fynn and to Ockendon at 2pm. At this time two French torpedo boats passed us pretty close. Did some washing this morning and had a nice bath in sea-water. Have been on Upper Deck along with the Elite for a concert - not so bad. This is to be our last night on the ‘Gloucester Castle’ for the time being as we are under orders to disembark at Malta in the morning. Details of R.A.M.C. on board as follows, 4/1st – 4/2nd South Midlands, City of London and 4/3rd, all due East. Fire-alarm at 4.15.

Sunday 20 th Roll-call 6.30. Up at %o’clock. Fatigue duties washing up breakfast things – one of six. Sighted land immediately I came on board 5.00am, which proved to be the Island of Malta. Put on puttees and boots for the first time since last Saturday. 9 o’clock the ship stopped about two miles outside Malta to await pilot. We have now turned round to get into port, and the island looks well inhabited from the distance as we can see Gunboats, while just now cruisers are all around us. We can see a huge Dreadnought about a mile away travelling at great speed. Our pilot has now arrived. A fine sight. We see now first a destroyer close to us cutting through the water like a razor, then a battleship coming up behind at a rare speed. We can see her well with the naked eye. The battleship is the ‘Agamemnon’ and one of our boys has a brother on it, who has been out here fourteen months. 11 o’clock entered the harbour at Malta, a wonderful sight of guns, ships, forts, rocks etc. This has been a red letter day, and deserves extra space. We have been in harbour all day surrounded by warships, torpedo boats and hospital ships. Between us and the ships are a fleet of small boats plying between our ship and Veletta town taking officers and nurses on shore, bringing in also all kind of inspectors and officials including Lord Methuen, the Governor General. The men in charge of the small boats are Maltese and its been quite a sport to listen to them. They get so excited and are very short-tempered. It has been quite a pretty sight tonight with the ships lit up. A transporter followed us into the harbour. The men were packed like sardines and had come from Egypt due for Marseilles. Of course we are not allowed off the ship, but what we have seen of Malta is not so bad, still, give me good old Maidstone and Home life, but our journey must continue, where, we do not know – must wait and see what the morning brings forth.

Monday 21 st Roll call 6.30. Fatigue duties none. Standing by. Still in harbour and glorious morning. Veletta town opposite reminds me of an English sea-front. All the walls are huge, and resemble prison walls. On our right we have a different view, all the buildings there seem to be work-shops. There are three or four fine hospital ships in the harbour at present, and the troopship is being coaled up ready to proceed on her journey. Goodbye Malta, we are on our way at 5.30, after a 30 hour stay in one of the prettiest harbours. The official news is that we are going straight to Salonica, and may get there Thursday. Heard today that we have lost two cruisers in the North Sea, the ‘Falmouth’ and the ‘Nottingham’ with 26 lives lost. Just going on deck now for the rest of the evening. My only regret on leaving Malta is that we were not allowed on shore, but then Tommy gets no luxuries. All the officers went.

Tuesday 22 nd Roll call 6.30. Fatigue duties none. Some others put on for misbehaving. Nice morning with good breeze, but rather dull. We are well through the Mediteranean towards the Island of Crete. The troopship we saw at Malta is following in our path, and has an escort. No land in sight today, and nothing in particular to write. Fire alarm at 4.15, the third since starting. Extra precautions are being taken tonight against submarine attacks as we are about to enter the Aegean Sea, the most dangerous part of our journey. The watertight door has been closed separating the foreaft from the stern. This is the ship’s first journey to Salonica. She has been going between Malta and Alexandria previously, but now takes the place of the ‘Braemar Castle’, which is going to England with sick, and to be refitted. The Captain of the ship is a very cautious man it seems, so much the better perhaps.

Wednesday 23 rd 5 am. Up on deck, grand morning. Can see land quite close which is the coast of Greece, rugged but picturesque scenery stretching out into the sea here and there, then a pretty little bay. The sea is like a pond. We passed the island of Crete unseen on our right, and we are in the Aegean sea near cape Maltapan. The coast is an ideal place for submarines to lurk in. Roll call 6.30. Fatigue duties, washing up breakfast things – one of six – easy job. We are now passing through a cluster of islands known as the Greek Archibelligo, some small, some huge, mostly uninhabitable and uncultivated. I have witnessed another wonderful sunset far exceeding in beauty the one I previously wrote about. Poor Ted Morris has lost a pound note from his coat pocket this afternoon. Sorry to say things have been mysteriously missed almost daily and one cannot be too careful. Wrote to Mr & Mrs Payne tonight, also to my dear wife but they cannot be posted yet.

Thursday 24 th Up at 5 am, and can see land on both sides, Greece on our left, Turkey on the right, so we are getting near Salonika. Roll call 6.30. Fatigue duties none, exempt for the day.Sea choppy and very windy indeed, but warm. 9am – we are passing along the Dardanelles portion of Turkish coast, and can see a German or Austrian boat which the English torpedoed about a year ago. She was sunk outside Salonica harbour and towed onto the shore where she is a wreck. Native fishing smacks are here in great numbers. Another hospital ship, the ‘Gascoyne’ has just passed us, making the sixth since we left Malta, that I’ve seen. They bring sick and wounded. Have just received orders to pack up ready to disembark, so here goes. 10 o’clock. We are stationary, the ships engines are stopped, and we are outside the port of Salonica already to get on land when everything is in order. There are five hospital ships in the port now. The town of Salonica looks quite pretty from the port, and I can see camps everywhere dotted here and there on the hills. The town itself is very compact and is well looked after by British and French ships and torpedo boats. We got across to Salonica on a ferry boat about 5 o’clock, and marched up to the Rest Camp at Karassi some four miles up country, all amongst the hills, under canvas. This is a second Hayle camp experience, only worse in every way. The march through Salonica I shall always remember as the most unpleasant route march, through the dirtiest and evil smelling town I’ve been in. The Greeks are very dirty and it’s no wonder the troops get fever in such a place. While here we sleep on Mother earth with just a waterproof sheet and one blanket. The ground is lumpy and dirty. Had nothing to eat between 12.30 and bed-time except a cup of tea which some kind soldier boys got for us and was much appreciated.

Friday 25 th . Up at 4.30, not from choice. First parade 7 o’clock and breakfast 8.30 with bully beef and biscuits, and a pint of tea. Did several parades during the morning for details and were served out with sun helmets. Stew for dinner – not so bad. This is a huge camp, one of scores all around here, habited by Italians, French Russians and Portuguese. It’s a wonderful sight. People at home have no idea of the things done out here. Posted a letter home this morning.

Saturday 26 th Roll call 6 o’clock, breakfast 8.30. Bacon, bread and tea. Fatigue, cleaning up lines and sanitary duties – one of six with spade pickaxe and barrow, cover up tin refuse. Dinner at 12.30 –stew. Had a severe touch of sickness in the afternoon. Tea 4.20 – marmalade and small biscuits. Soon recovered – must have been the stew as several others suffered in the same way. Heat terrible, everywhere is parched, but gets cool in the night.

Sunday 27 th My first Sunday in foreign lands, first parade at 9 o’clock for church parade. Terribly hot, almost unbearable while standing during the service. Breakfast 8.30, bread, bacon and tea. We are between 30 and 40 miles from the firing line, but we can hear the guns plainly, more so at night. Some thousands of troops came in yesterday, Chesters, Manchesters, Black Watch (in kilts) Cameroons, SWB. Dinner, usual stew. Went to pitch tents just outside for an hour, had a fine shower bath and rest of the day free.

Monday 28 th Roll call 6am. Breakfast 8.30. Bacon, bread and tea. Camp is crowded. Some thousands of troops came in yesterday, about 2000 from Malta hospitals. Five died on the boat, 150 too ill to be taken off, a heart-breaking sight. Can see the old Greek shepherds guarding their flocks of sheep and goats on the hills around. What a scramble to get a wash or a drink of water. Transports of all kinds are continually running up and down. Thousands of them. Have been watching over 40 mule transports, 20 teams of mules and 14 Red Cross vans going up to the firing line.

Tuesday 29 th Roll call 6 o’clock. Fatigue, cleaning up lines. Very hot and heat temperature was 118 & half degrees in the shade. I slept out last night, and was up before 5 o’clock. We are having an easy time, but the drawback is the food. Not enough of it. More troops coming in tonight, about 700, so we have to put up with 16 in a tent. That will not upset me, for I shall sleep outside while it keeps fine. Wrote home this morning and will be posted on Wednesday, I hope. Had a unique experience this evening of seeing a Russian camp about a mile from ours. I took the risk, all on my own and I wouldn’t have missed it. The Russians are a fine body of men and sing when on parade, and before taking rations they sing and count, an old custom of theirs’ no doubt. Returned quite safely and spent an interesting hour. Went through the camp and saw one old soldier with five St Georges Crosses and four medals.

Wednesday 30 th Roll call 6 o’clock. Fatigue, cleaning up the lines. Breakfast 8.30, bully beef and bread. Spent a very interesting time amongst the Garrison Artillery. Saw 4 six inch Howitzer and witnessed the men practising. Their range is 8 miles and they fire a 100 lb shell. Two had already gone up the firing line. Saw four or five guns go by at 5.30 am and one or two more go up the hills pulled by a couple of motor lorries and scores of men pushing behind. Rest of the day spent easy.

Thursday 31 st Roll call 6 o’clock. Went to the doctor at 7 o’clock to get some medicine, very constipated. Paraded at 9.30 for pay and got paid at 10.30 the sum of 5 drachma, equivalent to 4 shillings and tuppence of English money. Amount due tomorrow – ten shillings and sixpence, so am in credit six & fourpence. Special parade at 12 o’clock. A private in the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders sentenced to 56 days first field punishment for being drunk while on duty at a reservoir at Salonica. He had been tried by court martial at Salonic. An old soldier too, with ribbons on his tunic.

Friday September 1 st Roll call 6.15. Fatigue cleaning lines, nothing else till 5 o’clock, a parade to warn us that we were to leave Karaissi Camp in the morning. Hadn’t been in our tents half an hour when a terrible storm broke out, rain ,thunder and lightning. The camp was a mass of light for two or three hours, a grand spectacle, really. In England people would be frightened at such a storm, so vivid was the lightning and we expected our tent to fall down at any minute.

Saturday Sept 2 nd A memorable day this. Got up at 3.30 am, breakfast at 4.30 in the dark, tea and biscuits. Left Karaissi camp at 5.30 for Hortiac, marching with full packs till 9 o’clock, up hill all the way. On arrival had to make our own bivouac - Fred and I out of biscuit tins, sand bags, stones, 2 sheets, 3 pegs and 2 supports, and here we are in our Little Grey Home in the East, going to sleep on Mother Earth with only one blanket between two. Each fresh abode and condition is worse than the previous.

Postcard view of Taranto sent to Mrs Gertrude Morgan from Arthur Lumley Morgan, dated 21 Feb 19, stamped Army Post Office 100, OAS printed at top –

MBW (My beloved wife) Arrived here Thursday and am in the best of health, hope to get a move on in a day or two, my next journey will be overland through Italy and France then across that final bit of water. Hope to see you both well early in March. The route is long and progress slow. Love Arthur The two following letters were written to Arthur’s daughter Stella on the occasions of her first and third birthdays.

1) Somewhere in Macedonia Friday Jan 12th/17 To my Darling Stella From her Daddie on active service

Your Daddie left home when you were four months old for a military camp many miles away and when you were only six months old he left England for foreign land to do his bit in the great war. From there he writes his little girl her first birthday letter wishing her joy and happiness and trusting she will always be a comfort and a blessing to her dear Mother and Dad in the years before her. You have been a little bit of sunshine to Mother during Daddies absence so Mother tells me. When you grow up dear and can read this letter make a simple resolve to always be good and kind and unselfish as your dear Mother is .I have seen your sweet smiles when a little baby and have missed them all these months, but one day when the war is over Daddy will be home once more please God then you will know him and love him. He is hoping to be home with Mother and you long before you are able to read this, until then Mother will keep it safe, the money inside is for Mother to buy you a birthday present, I hope the big ship will bring it home safe. Daddy hopes to be home to buy your next birthday present himself. God bless you Stella now and always with loving kisses from your dear old dad

2) From Russia

To my dear daughter Stella Just a line or two to wish my little girl many happy returns of the day. Daddy had great hopes to be home for your third birthday but God willing he will see you long before your next birthday. He hopes that you will grow up a good little girl and continue to be a little bit of sunshine to Mother until Daddy comes home and then to both of us. God bless you and keep you safe now and always Best love and wishes from Your Daddy Jan20th/1919